Paper stacking apparatus



Feb- 25', 19 E. R. PETERSON 3,429,459

PAPER STACKING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 5, 1966 Feb. 25, 1969 Filed OCT.. 5,1966 INVENTOR. ERIC RONALD PEE/RSON ATTORNEYD Feb. 25, 1969 E. R.PETERSON' PAPER STACKING APPARATUS AFiled Oct. 1966 INVENTOR. ERIC@0A/ALD PETERSON im@ Mags United Smtes Patent Cce 3,429,469 PatentedFeb. 25, 1969 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus fordelivering bundles of paper from a cutting machine to a receivingplatform for stacking. A horizontally movable table is supported at thelevel of the bed of a cutting device for loading.

This invention relates to sheet handling devices and in particular toimproved means for transferring a stack of paper sheets from cutting ortrimming apparatus to a pallet.

The present invention is particularly directed to means forautomatically and accurately handling heavy stacks of sheets as they arereceived from the cutting apparatus. Typically, a stack 6" x 53" x 78"weighs approximately 650 pounds before it is cut. Even when the originalstack is cut in half, it will `be appreciated that in order to handlebulk of these proportions without damaging the paper, the apparatusshould function as automatically as possible. For the same reason, it ispreferable that the operator be required to handle the stack as littleas possible in order to reduce fatigue. In addition, the paper stack isusually Smooth and has a slippery surface that makes it somewhatdifficult to handle without damage.

At present, there are many devices available for removing and stackingreams of paper as they come from the cutting apparatus. The most popularform of machine utilizes an air table wherein the frictional forces areminimized between the top surface of the table and the bottom sheetresting thereon. This permits easy moving of the sheet even though theweight is excessive. The present invention utilizes an air table andalso has certain other features and advantages that are not available inthe prior art devices.

First, novel means are provided for moving the air table intojuxtaposition with the output side of the cutting apparatus. Withoutresorting to tilting tables and the attendant mechanism, the presentinvention provides an auxiliary carriage that moves the tablehorizontally `from its normal position Iin the area of the skid to aposition wherein the air table is in opposition to the cutter bed.Second, pivotal gate means are provided above the air table so that asthe table is lretracted from its position above the skid, the ream ofpaper thereon will be blocked and held lin place and be permitted togently drop onto the waiting skid. Third, laterally adjustable rollermeans are provided for the air table in order to insure that the tabledoes not inadvertently stray and cause the paper being transported to beupset.

The present invention is useful as auxiliary equipment for my MultipleSheet Handling Device disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,206,642. Inoperation, the device of the aforementioned patent and the presentinvention are used side by side. The paper is delivered by my multiplesheet handling device to the cutting apparatus and from the cuttingapparatus is replaced on a skid in cut form by the present invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved meansfor moving a pile of sheets from the cutting apparatus and placing thepile on a waiting skid.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means to move apaper-carrying air table into juxtaposition with the output end of thecutting apparatus.

A further object 'is to provide improved paper stacking means requiringa minimum of manual operation.

A particular object is to provide a completely integrated system forloading, conveying, cutting and removing stacks of paper.

A further object is to provide adjustable guide means for accurately andsmoothly moving the air table between the cutting apparatus and the skidor pallet on which the paper is to be stacked.

Yet another object is to provide improved paper stacking apparatuscapable of installation without major constructional alterations inexisting paper utilization plants.

Still another object is to provide improved blocking means thatautomatically aligns the paper stack above a waiting skid.

A particular feature of this invention is that the pile of trimmed papersheets are stacked on the skid without distu-rbing the verticalalignment of the sheets.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention will,in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, 'becomeobvious from the following more detailed description of the invention,taken in cony junction with the accompanying drawing which forms anintegral part thereof.

In the various gures of the drawing like reference characters designatelike parts.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a schematic plan view of a fully integrated paper handlingsystem comprising paper unstacking means, cutting apparatus and thepaper stacking means of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the paper stacking apparatuscomprising the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a. transverse, sectional, elevational view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the auxiliarycarriage means taken along line 7 7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of adjustable guide rollermeans utilized with the air table.

The paper unstacking apparatus described in my issued U.S. Patent No.3,206,042 is shown in phantom outline in FIG. 1. The output end of theunstacker 10 is adjacent one side of a conventional cutter or trimmingapparatus 12 while the new stacking apparatus comprising the presentinvention is positioned in side-by-side relationship with the unstackingapparatus. As will be explained in detail hereinafter a portion of theinstant invention is adapted to be moved into an extended positiondirectly in front of the cutter apparatus output side. Thus the originalstack of paper is delivered to the side of the cutter and is removedfrom an adjacent side.

The paper stacking apparatus generally denoted as 20 is shown in a sideelevation in FIG. 2. It will be seen that the machine is comprised of aplurality of vertically disposed structural frame members 22, horizontalbeams 24 at the top of the machine and spaced, inwardly facing,horizontal, U-shaped channels 26a and 26b approximately at the verticalcenter. Beams 24, which extend the length of the machine and are at bothsides, carry much of the drive mechanism and switching members that areused to control and time the movement of the various components.

Horizontal channels 26a and 26b are also disposed on both longitudinalsides of the machine and are utilized as tracks Afor linearlydisplaceable air table 28.

Drive means similar to those described in my issued patent are utilizedfor moving the air table in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane.In addition, switches and other control means are included for thepurpose of determining the direction and duration of table movement.These control members are an integral part of the apparatus and in factinclude several safety features. However, for simplicity of description,emphasis will be placed on three features in particular, namely, thepaper blocking gate operatively associated with the movement of the airtable, an auxiliary carriage that moves the air table into juxtapositionwith the output side of the paper cutting apparatus and adjustableroller means that accurately guide the table.

Apertures 30 are provided in the top surface of the air table which ishollow and which includes an interior chamber in communication with asuitable source of air (not shown). The same result may be achieved by aplurality of pipes in the hollow table. The pipes have a common sourceof compressed air and nozzles that direct streams of air upwardly fromthe top surface of the table. Each side of the table is also providedwith a number of wheels 32 that are arranged to ride in the channels 26aand 2Gb (see FIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8). As may best be seen in FIG. 2, theleading edge of the air table is downwardly sloped at 34 to define aknife edge.

Air table 28 is arranged to move within the contines of the machineframe in two opposite vertical directions and two opposite horizontaldirections. To accomplish this, structural frame members 22 function asan elevator and serve to raise or lower channels 26a and 26h that carrythe air table. Suitable drive means 4G are provided for this purpose(FIG. 2). By way of example, and without limiting the scope of thisinvention, an elevator system that is -functionally comparable to theone disclosed in my issued patent may be employed.

The air table is also movable in a horizontal plane within the confinesof the machine frame by schematically illustrated drive means 42 (FIG.2). Again, without intending to be limiting, reference may be had to myissued patent wherein one form of horizontal drive means is fullydisclosed. Regardless of the drive system used, it is essential that,within the boundaries of the machine frame, the elevator is arranged tomove the air table vertically so that the air table may also move in ahorizontal direction at the particular height required. It will also bebrought out later that the air table is capable of additional horizontalmovement past one end of the machine frame and at one particular height,namely, that of the cutter apparatus bed.

After the paper has been cut to the desired size, the cut stack ispushed onto table 28 by means of a pusher bar P (FIG. 1) that is a partof the trimming device 12. In order to provide a smooth transition, theside of the air table must be brought into substantial abutment with thedischarge side of he trimmer bed at precisely the same height thereof.To accomplish this, the air table is provided with a predeterminedlength of over-travel beyond the end of the machine frame.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention an A- shaped carriagemember 50 is utilized, in combination with a fixed height opposingchannel member 52 (FIG. 1). As may best be seen in FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, thecarriage is comprised of a frame 54 that is rollably supported on wheels56. The frame is guided by a track 58 that is posi tioned in front ofthe trimmer and parallel thereto. At the upper end of the carriage, ahook member 60 is pivotally mounted on a pin 61. The hook may thereforeengage an inwardly extending pin 62 on the flange 64 that supports therearward wheel 32 on the cutter Side of the air table.

The carriage member 50 is normally stationed at the end of the machineframe closest to the cutter. The hook is in a receiving position becausea roller 66, integral therewith, is on the high part of a cam surface 68that is rigidly attached to one of the upright machine frame members.When the air table is driven by the horizontal drive system to the endof the machine frame, pin 62 engages the body of the hook. Continuedmotion of the air table causes roller 66 to travel downwardly along thedownwardly sloping area of the cam surface. The hook pivots about pin 61and drops onto pin 62. Further movement of the air table in the samedirection causes the carriage to move together with the air table. Itwill be obvious that movement of the air table in the opposite directionwill cause roller 66 to ride up on cam surface 68 and thereby disengageboth the hook and the carriage from the air table.

With the air table and carriage engaged, it will be seen that the sideof the air table nearest to the cutter is supported. Accordingly, withat least one pair of opposed air table wheels 32 remaining in thechannel 26a and 26b, the air table may be extended beyond the machineframe to a position directly in front of and at the same level as thecutter bed. In order to support the opposite side of the air table, afixed channel 52 is provided that is contiguous with channel 2Gb. Thexed channel 52 is of course at the proper height to position the airtable at the exact height of the cutter bed.

Auxiliary guide means to prevent lateral movement of the air table isshown in FIG. 9. At various places along both longitudinal edges of theair table a downwardly extending bar 71 is provided. Each bar includes ahorizontal, outwardly extending arm 72 having a slot 73 in the free endthereof and a threaded member 74 extending into the slot. A stud 75 issupported in the slot and carries a roller 76 at its lower end. It isconvenient to use a ball bearing assembly that has an inner race and anouter race as the roller. In order to remove any lateral play from thetable threaded member 74 is brought to bear against stud 75. Thethreaded member moves the stud laterally within the slot until theroller 76 rides along the inside, vertical surface of the horizontalchannels. The tangential contact made between the rollers and thechannel walls assures the elimination of lateral table movement and yetpermits smooth longitudinal movement of the table.

The horizontal drive means is now used to move the air table from itsposition in front of the cutter to a second position over a waiting skidS. While the table is thus moving, the cut stack of paper is manuallyaligned along either guide means 77a or 77b that are secured to theframe members. At this time, blocking member 78 is in an upwardposition, as shown in FIG. 5, to permit the air table and its stack ofcut paper to move thereunder. At an appropriate time, when the paper isin approxi mately the proper position, the gate is retracted or moveddownwardly into a nearly vertical position by a suitably timed aircylinder 80.

The table may now be retracted, that is, moved back towards the cuttingapparatus. The gate, being in a nearly vertical position, will hold orblock the paper and pre vent its movement. The table therefore slidesout from underneath the stack of paper so that the paper may be gentlyplaced on the top of the waiting skid. The elevator means, incombination with suitable sensing apparatus in the form of aphotoelectric system, shown schematically as 82a, 82a' and 82b, assuresthat the air table is at the proper height and clears the top of eitherthe skid or the paper on the skid by a minimum amount. Thus, the paperthat leaves the air table is required to be dropped a very smalldistance.

The apparatus described above may be used advantageously with reamunstacking devices such as disclosed in my Patent 3,206,042. Together,the two devices form a completely integrated and almost entirelyautomatic paper handling system by means of an auxiliary carriage.

A single air table may be used directly in front of the cuttingapparatus and may be moved to a position directly above the skid onwhich the paper is to be deposited. The pivotal blocking gate provideseffective means for impeding any movement of the paper while the airtable is being moved rearwardly to a position in front of the cuttingapparatus to receive the next load of paper.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated and it is t0 be understood that various changesand modifications may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for transferring a stack of sheets from a cutting deviceto a receiving platform, the apparatus being of the type including apair of spacedly opposed, horizontal channels arranged to be movedvertically and a table having laterally extending means integral withthe first and second longitudinal sides thereof and adapted to engagethe channels whereby the table may move horizontally within the continesof the apparatus, the improvement comprising:

(a) an elongated, horizontal guide member aligned with one of thehorizontal channels and arranged to receive the laterally extendingmeans on the first longitudinal side of the table;

(b) a carriage movable along a path contiguous with the secondlongitudinal side of the table;

(c) support means integral with said carriage and arranged to releasablyengage the laterally extending means on the second longitudinal side ofthe table whereby the table is at the same height as the bed of thecutting device when the laterally extending means on the firstlongitudinal side of the table are engaged by said guide member; and

(d) drive mean adapted to move the table and support means when saidcarriage is in support thereof whereby the table is moved horizontallyinto and out of juxtaposition with the cutting device.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guide member isrigidly positioned at a fixed height relative to the cutter bed and isspacedly opposed thereto by a dimension approximately the same as thewidth of the table.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said table includesa laterally extending pin and cam means and wherein said support meanscomprises a pivotal hook having a cam roller integral therewith, saidrollei being arranged to ride on and olf of said cam means whereby saidhook is disengaged and engaged from said pin.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,816,031 7/1931 Willis 104-932,955,717 10/1960 Segur 214-6 FOREIGN PATENTS 964,411 7/1964 GreatBritain.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

